Sarasota-Bradenton (Cocoa, Laurel: to live, park, town)

[AlexinGA]

Can anybody tell me what the area of Kensington Park in Sarasota is like?

[SoFLGal]

Here's some info about Kensington Park:

Kensington Park was established in late 50’s and its developers had the intent of creating a “functional family environment” that would be both safe and sociable. When it was created, Kensington Park was located out in the middle of rural farm land, and the community still retains that natural beauty.
Now, however, the Kensington Park area is alive with other housing developments, churches, shopping areas and a sports complex (which just happens to be the winter training park for the Cincinnati Reds baseball team). Kensington Park has a very community oriented feel to it, and the Kensington Park Civic Association houses Easter egg hunts, dinners and festivals regularly.
Most of the homes were built in the 50’s and 60’s and have been renovated and updated to today’s modern tastes.

[sunshine girl]

That would be the brochure printed version of Kensington Park. The actual place is a mix of young and old, mix of races, mostly middle to lower income families. Not all bad, not all good. Nice house, ok house, not so kept up house, nice house, etc. scattered throughout. An area of Sarasota that's a bit less pricey overall. I would say a pretty even mix of families, young singles starting, and elderly. Not a terrible place, but not as picturesque as described in the realtor version IMO.

[Ladywithafan]

Now, we don't even have the Waffle House.... I truely think this season is going to make or break up a lot of restaurants. Being that this "recession" has finally been confirmed, the move to eat at home will leave restaurants empty and servers out of work.

[crystalblue]

Sarasota has a huge amount of space between Sarasota and North Port


http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&ll=2...81903&t=h&z=10

Is that off limits, or just hasnt been gotten to yet?

[atroxanautin]

Originally Posted by crystalblue

Sarasota has a huge amount of space between Sarasota and North Port


Google Maps

Is that off limits, or just hasnt been gotten to yet?

Mostly (if not all) off limits. A big chunk of the area is the myakka river state park (one of the largest in the state) which is something like 50 square miles. The other big chunk is the Carlton Reserve which is like 40 square miles. I think SWFWMD owns a big chunk of land too

[buckeyegal78]

UH OH....I'm an OHIO STATE ALUMNI...I can't be near Michigan fans...hahaha

[AlexinGA]

Hi Suncoast Guy,
Going down to Sarasota next month to check it out for possible relocation. Does this dicey area that you've mentioned include Gilespie Park and Central Cocoanut? I thought those were up and coming areas.
Thanks!

[davery5872]

Originally Posted by Ladywithafan

#1 You will see the OH/MI tags much more than NY because you get on I-75 in Detroit or Columbus and it takes you right

I75 does not go through Columbus. It goes through Cincinnati, Dayton and Toledo.

[gypsychic]

Originally Posted by AlexinGA

Hi Suncoast Guy,
Going down to Sarasota next month to check it out for possible relocation. Does this dicey area that you've mentioned include Gilespie Park and Central Cocoanut? I thought those were up and coming areas.
Thanks!

I'm not SuncoastGuy, but YOU DO NOT WANT to live there. Gillespie Park is better than Central Cocoanut, which is basically Newtown, which is where there is a LOT of violent crime! Gillespie Park is not as up-and-coming as they tried to push it back in the boom days.

If you want near downtown, look around Laurel Park or Paver Park.